17th October 2024 Minutes

VOWCHURCH & DISTRICT GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St Margarets, Turnastone, Vowchurch.
Minutes of the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council meeting
held on Thursday 17th October 2024 in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall

PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), A Picton, I Chadwick, E Williams, D Cross, A Mason, S Craddock, G Deas, R Lloyd and J Kernahan
IN ATTENDANCE – PCSO Margaret Andrzejewska, Ward Councillor M Engel and Mrs L Cowles (Clerk).

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillor J Andrews.
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – There were no declarations of interest or written request for dispensation.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 19th September 2024 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – No members of the public attended the meeting therefore no specific points were raised.
  5. REPORTS
    5.1 Local Police – PCSO Andrezejewska advised that there are no problems to report in the Vowchurch group area. Be aware that quads have been stolen in Longtown/Craswall, Peterchurch and Blakemere. Some timber has been stolen from Abbeydore. They are aware of problems with mud on the roads caused by tractors & trailers coming out of fields but also acknowledge that this is hard to manage, it is a criminal offence to leave mud on the roads. Please also be aware of any potholes after recent flooding. The Parish Council agreed to keep parish priorities the same – speeding, rural theft and presence of large vehicles on the road.
    5.2 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engels’ report included: –
    Update on recent Parish Council summit, which included a discussion about the PROW network.
    Herefordshire and Parish and Town Councils’ Charter – Ward Councillor Engel would like to set up a working group including a member from each Parish Council in the ward to agree any response.
    At the October Council meeting, Ward Councillor Engel had forcefully stated that any decision on devolution should be discussed through a full consultation with the people of Herefordshire.
    There appears to be a crisis amongst Locality Steward, there were originally 12 or 13 Steward covering Herefordshire, there are now only 6. He has left this with a cabinet minister to take forward.
    Planning – The planning department have recruited some new officers which should help with any backlog. They are considering offering an informal service to applicants with regard to what will and won’t be acceptable for planning at a cost of approximately £65.00.
    5.3 Lengthsman report – The lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting.
  6. CLERKS UPDATE – There were no additional updates.
  7. PLANNING
    7.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION
    Site: Sweeps Cottage, The Common Road, Lower Maescoed, Herefordshire. HR2 0HP
    Description: Proposed conversion of the garage to holiday let.
    Application No: 233274 Grid Ref: 334521:230808
    SUPPORT – The application broadly follows policy 9 of the adopted NDP. New tourism facilities will be supported where they are appropriately located and respect the environment, landscape and historic character of the area in which they are located. Care should be taken when approving external lighting as per Policy 10 of the adopted NDP. The Parish Council noted that there was very little detail in the application and would have liked more information on the finishings.

7.2 PLANNING CONSULTATION
Site: Quarry Cottage, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire. HR2 0JW
Description: Proposed front porch to north west elevation, two ‘cat slide’ dormer windows to north west elevation to match existing, conservation roof lights to north west elevation single storey roof. Increase size of ground floor window opening on north west elevation and addition of single ‘Cat Slide’ dormer window to south east elevation to match existing.
Application No: 242380 Grid Ref: 331754:234104
SUPPORT – The Parish Council are happy to see the building brought back to a habitable purpose. Care should be taken when approving any external lighting as per policy 10 of the adopted NDP.

  1. FINANCE
    8.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £16,929.40 dated 30th September 2024.
    To include £18.00 bank charges
    Receipts – £8620.44 2nd Precept payment.
    8.2 Consider payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for October 2024 Clerk’s hours – Payment agreed.
    8.3 Consider payment to Cloud Next Ltd invoice no. 229747 for annual email hosting of £59.98 gross (VAT £9.99) – Payment agreed.
    8.4 Finance working group – The latest quarterly reports were distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting. The finance working group confirmed spreadsheets, invoices and PAYE had been checked and all were in order. Spending against the budget was also checked. Work on the draft budget for 2025/26 had been started and will be included on the November agenda.
  2. PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY NEW SCHEME AND GRANT FUNDING – The Clerk advised that Head of Highways at Herefordshire Council had thought the draft installation costs were excessive. It was agreed that Councillors May and Deas along with the Clerk would work on a plan to group jobs together to reduce costs. If the Parish Council do not take part in the new scheme defects will still be reported to Herefordshire Council in the same way with no guarantee when defects would be completed. Landowners can still request PROW furniture for free from Herefordshire Council for them to install, the Parish Council could purchase the PROW furniture for the landowner to install or a volunteer could be instructed to install the equipment and would be insured via Herefordshire Council. It was agreed to sign the contract for the previously approved grant funding.
  3. VOWCHURCH BRIDGE – It was agreed that the rocks placed in the river by Vowchurch bridge last summer would eventually become part of the aesthetics of the bridge, but will continue to monitor.
  4. B4348 ROADMARKINGS – It was agreed that the condition of the road surface on the B4348 through Vowchurch had degraded in recent years along with Batcho Hill and The Slough. The road markings are almost invisible. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Locality Steward in the first instance to request resurfacing.
  5. NOTICEBOARDS – Nobody had come forward regarding ownership of the noticeboard near the telephone exchange in Micahelchurch Escley. It was agreed that a noticeboard may be better positioned at the Pavilion in Michaelchurch. It was agreed that Councillor Williams would contact the sports federation for an agreement to place the noticeboard there and Councillor Picton would contact Mr Chris Robinson to request an estimate for a new board. Alternatively, noticeboards could be ordered online for approximately £2000 – £3000.
  6. NEWSLETTER – Ditches.
  7. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – There was no additional correspondence.
  8. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 21st November 2024 at 7.30pm at Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.40pm.

Signed……………………………………………………….
Dated………………………………………………………..

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